The Ultimate Dubai BAN Guide

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Feb 26, 2009
how to lift a cancelation of visa ??

sweet29
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Feb 27, 2009
sweet29 wrote:how to lift a cancelation of visa ??


it sounds like they were processing the application and then aborted it. in this instance the 6 month labour ban will still be in effect. according to law you can enter the country again straight away on a visit visa, but will not be allowed to process a labour application for 6 months - around 30 August as the ban is for 6 months from date of cancellation.
dbxsoul
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WHO SHOULD PAY THE BAN LIFTING FEE? Mar 29, 2009
As per the UAE Labour law, who should pay the ban lifting fee, the employee or the new employer?
ghie
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Mar 29, 2009
Please note: There is no longer anything such as a "ban lifting fee", this went out about 4 years ago. As it stands there is no such fee, hence it is not covered by the Labour Law.

Actually it was never covered by the Labour Law in the first place, but was simply a local (Dubai) deviation to the National Law
dbxsoul
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Mar 30, 2009
I moved from a Dubai company to Sharjah company and had to pay AED4,000 as my part of the expenses incurred for my visa transfer which cost them over AED15,000 as I only finished 4 months with the Dubai company. The AED4,000 I paid they said is for my ban lifting fee. Now, the Sharjah company is terminating my contract due to redundancy (after 10 months of working). Do I have a reason to complain them to the ministry?
ghie
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Mar 31, 2009
this was originally over a year ago, at least 14 months according to the figures you provided. the "lifting fee" which you talk about does not officially exist, what may have actually happened was that you had paid to "grease the wheels of government" - atually a bribe to someone for pulling a few strings.

unfortunately, many are in a similar situation as yours - because of the reccesionary climate. i have heard that there may be a change in rules in the next few weeks to extend the one month grace period (between termination of the labour contract and leaving the country) to a three month period in order to allow people to look for other work. just a rumour at this stage, but i think that the government has realised that there is a serious situation and that they need to make some kind of arrangments to hold onto what labour force the country can afford to.

with regards to legality.. well retrenchment is not covered in the labour law as it has never been experienced in such large number before. you could call them and ask - as i have seen no written notifications covering this form of "termination" in the local press.
dbxsoul
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Black list Apr 05, 2009
I've been working for my employer for a year now but my residency visa was only done a week ago. I never intended on staying more than a year and the innitial (verbal) agreement was according to that. The company has been taken over by new shareholders and mangement and my residency is valid for three years from end of March.

I want to leave in July, but as the company paid a huge fine to get my residency done they want me to pay this back to them if i leave before three years!!!

I was thinking about just going on leave an not returning to avoid these costs... but I am scared that I might not be able to fly to other destinations via Dubai if the ban of blacklist me.

What would be my best option? Will i be able to fly via Dubai if I'm banned or blacklisted?
missnormal
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Apr 20, 2009
Sorry about the long delay in replying.

Firstly your company cannot hold you liable for a fine for which they were ultimately responsible. they should have had your residency and labor card processed within 60 days of you starting your job. that is the law.

Verbal agreements are not worth anything and cannot be contested in any uae court; all contracts have to be completed by both parties in Arabic to be legally binding.

What type of contract are you issued woth? limited or un-limited, it will state this on the official copy of your labor contract (dual Arabic/ English document).

Breaking a limited contract can incur you a 45 day salary fine. as you have a relatively new contract (again check the contract terms), but you will find that if your contract was only issued (officially) two weeks ago that you still fall within the probation period of the contract (mandatory 3 month period); this means you can actually walk out of your job tomorrow if you like - same applies to the employer he can terminate you within this period without any reason. This is irrespective of if you have worked for them for a year, the previous work experience is not recognized (is actually illegal) as it was not under any form of formal labor contract.

Lastly, if you were to get permanently banned from the uae or Dubai, it would not impinge your ability to pass through Dubai airport as a transit passenger - as you effectively do not clear customs and immigration (in transit). You would probably be able to also on a short (96 hour) transit visa as you do not have to be retina-scanned for this.
Taking another job here would be a different story though. Note, I said permanently banned, this is normally a punishment reserved for criminals or people who have absconded from their employer in the past.

Normally the worst would be a 12 month ban from working for breaking a limited contract or a 6 month ban for terminating an unlimited contract. At the moment there is no residency ban (unless for the reasons stated above - criminal etc.)
dbxsoul
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Desperately Need Advice Please Apr 21, 2009
My sister worked at an property developers company in Dubai and left her employment in early January after 18 months with them. She gave them the correct notice that she was leaving.

Our brother was very ill in the US and my sister repeatedly asked the company to sort out her severance etc, which they did not do. In the end she took the first plane she could and got out because our brother was due an operation the next day. For the previous 4 months the company had not paid the staff properly and was owing money to lots of people.

My sister has checked her work permit status online and has found that it is still active, even after 4 months of her being out of the company and the country. Is a company supposed to notify the authorities when a employee leaves and will they be in trouble for leaving this for so long? Also if they do ban her, will it now be from when her employers cancel her work permit or from when she left the country?

My sister has now been offered another job in Dubai but is worried about the implications. Her old and new company are both in free zones. She has a catalogue of emails to support her case where she consistently told her company about our brother having heart surgery and asking them to honour their commitment towards her so she could leave the country. My sister herself was suffering from bad health previous to her leaving the country.

I believe her employers have severe financial problems and have certainly let a lot of staff go. In fact the property company my sister was working for is now in the hands of another company with most original staff being made redundant. She is on a 3 year unlimited contract.

Do you think that there is any way that my sister will be allowed to work in Dubai again without the 6 months ban? She has all the emails from her employers which can prove the way she was treated. They still owe her money and as you can imagine she was in a terrible state when she left the country. Also they had given her notice to quit her room which means she would have been homeless and without money. Even when told about our brother's heart surgery, her employers did nothing to hurry things up and my sister formed the opinion that she would end up destitute in Dubai. All these mitigating circumstances led to her leaving without cancelling her papers.

We have recently read that the Labour Ministry is reviewing the 6 months ban. Do you think in the light of the circumstances, my sister may be able to bypass the 6 months ban and be able to work at this new company?

I have tried to phone the Labour Ministry as I live in Abu Dhabi but cannot get through. I don't know if her old employer will give a NOL as they are very petty minded. If this is needed would it be best to ask her prospective employer to approach the old company?

We urgently need your advice please as the job offer is on the table and they will not wait forever. Thank you. Michelle
songbird
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Apr 21, 2009
Sorry to hear about your brother :(.

The labour laws don't apply in the same way in free zones. Try and contact the office handling visa processing in the free zone where you were working.

If your sister's old and new job are in the same free zone then it should be straightforward to change jobs since the sponsor is the same. If different free zones then it depends on the free zone rules.

A 3 year "unlimited" contract doesn't make sense :? It should be unlimited or 3 year limited? If unlimited then she might be able to avoid a ban but she needs the NOC so if you think it helps, then maybe get new company to talk to old company.

If your sister is registered as absconding by the company, then it will be more problematic for her (can result in a permanent ban). She needs to resign or be terminated and have work permit cancelled. The company doesn't impose a ban, the Labour Department does, and it's automatic unless an exemption applies. Starts from when work permit is cancelled.

Non-payment of salary is grounds for resigning and filing a case with the labour department (except with a free zone you should file a complaint there first I think).

A review of the 6 month ban could happen tomorrow ... or next month ... or never. Don't count on it.

The labour ministry can review special cases so you could try visiting them and explaining the situation but I don't really have any idea how responsive they're likely to be. If the old company has been taken over by a new company, that is probably the factor that will be most significant in avoiding a ban.
bonk
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Apr 21, 2009
Thank you Bonk for your very swift response.

Unfortunately the two companies are in different free zones.

The contract is for 3 years so must be a 3 year limited contract?

If my sister's old employer had reported her as 'absconding' would that not be registered under her status on the Labour Ministry website? She did abscond but had very good reason for doing so. This was only after giving notice in the correct way and them delaying paying her, after months of not paying on time. She was very worried about giving her passport over to these people as they have form for not paying properly. She felt she would be trapped, homeless and penniless in Dubai if she had done so. In fact at one stage she did not have money to pay for her medication. They knew that our brother was due to have heart surgery and still did not honour their commitment to her and deal with her thus enabling her to leave the country on time to get to our brother in the US.

Is there any way of checking her status without her having to re-enter Dubai first as she is worried about doing so?

The contract is with a company which is now practically dormant, most of the staff have gone and the company has been taken over by another operating property developer.

Thank you so much for your help. Michelle.
songbird
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Apr 22, 2009
1. Sounds like 3 year limited contract then, yes.
2. Erm, I guess. I don't know enough about the website to say.
3. Contact the Dubai immigration department and/or Ministry of Labour. They both have helplines you can try, or visit them. Bring whatever relevant documents you have.
bonk
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Apr 28, 2009
I really Don't know nothing about the albour law's in Dubai!!.... the only thing i knew that our Vist Visa change's to resident Visa n then you're free to live for 3 year's!!....... Thank's i should Understand what's going on with labour Law!!................
Sharp
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ban on 3 year finishing with a unlimited contract May 09, 2009
my (3 year)labour card is finishing on 23 of may 09. now i got a better offer. this is my first contract and it is unlimited. i will not get noc. i supposed to get a 6 months working ban. Can i remove this ? if yes how ?
please give me an immediate reply.
BVV
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May 09, 2009
Ohh!!.. I think You Can't remove staying in Dubai!...... for that You have to Leave from for 6th Month's right!!.. anyway As I don't know Much about it Perhaps I'm wrong!...... Congrate's for New Offer!!.........
Sharp
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Will I be banned despite NOC issuance? May 21, 2009
I accepted a job offer with a Dubai company and recently started working for a couple of days when I got another offer from a different company. I am seriously considering transferring, but I am not sure if this is possible. For professional reasons, the new offer is more suitable to my interest and qualifications.

I have an employment visa (converted from tourist visa), but no residence visa stamp on passport and labor card yet. I haven't even gone through medical yet as I just started working 4 days ago. My boss says he will issue me a NOC, should I decide to resign and join the other company so long as I pay the necessary fees the company paid for my visa processing. As I don't have the residence visa stamp on passport, labor card and haven't gone through medical, our PRO said I will pay approx AED 3000 only. The new company confirmed they will pay visa transfer fees.

My questions are:
1. Will the NOC issuance by my current employer suffice to avoid any employment ban?
2. Our PRO initially said I would have to pay AED 14 000 for all the fees they paid for my visa. Since he quoted that amount in front of my boss, I think my boss wanted to scare and deter me from resigning. When I spoke to the PRO alone, he quoted approx AED 3000. Does anybody have an idea about how much I really have to pay? I am 4 days into my new job and I am on an unlimited contract/offer letter.
3. I hear about the AED 500 payment per month for every month you didn't complete in a year. Is this part of the visa transfer cost? The new potential employer advised they will pay all visa transfer fees.

HELP pls. I am totally confused with the various things I hear and read about. I need to come up with a final decision ASAP.
ink_n_paper
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May 22, 2009
Regarding the banning facts, there is some information not specified:

1. if on a Limited contract, can a person resign while on probation- ( does this constitute breaking the law?; or would this be regarding flouting the law once the probation period is over.

I have just signed up on a limited contract having spent 3 months out in the cold from retrenchment; I am joining an employer out of need and not choice and given the option i intend to quit within 6 months should a good offer surface from somewhere.

I simply wanted to know my legal limits.

1. ( CLARIFY if resigning for valid reasons within the probation period would constitute a breach of country`s labor law.
trekker
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Re: The Ultimate BAN Guide May 22, 2009
is there any way to circumvent the immigration ban imposed by the government for Limited contracts?;
if the govt acts unilaterally in imposing this hedious law then why have 2 sets of laws in the name of limited and un-limited contracts ?.

I got laid off from a semi-govt company and ive been forced to settle for a new employer who is only keen on providing a Limited contract; Given a choice, i wouldnt work for more than a year with this employer but im forced to do so in the light of the economic situation all around Dubai; Offers arent that forthcoming as they used to.

I intend to deliberately resign within my probation period but my contract doesnt explicitly say if i have the liberty to do so within the probation period; Id like to know if the immigration ban would be applied incase i received an alternative job offer within a probation eriod. What would happen, incase i informed my employer by amicably resigning and refunding cash as required by law ?.

Can you shed light on this specific issue?.
trekker
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May 22, 2009
yes, unfortunatley, the ban is extended to persons while still under probation - in my opinion one of the most unfair of labour practices.

on a limited contract this would even be worse as you have to work out the full contract duration to avoid being banned.

the ban would be imposed irrispective of what ever guarentees a currnet employer offers, the ban is effected by the labour ministry and not by the employer.


trekker wrote:Regarding the banning facts, there is some information not specified:

1. if on a Limited contract, can a person resign while on probation- ( does this constitute breaking the law?; or would this be regarding flouting the law once the probation period is over.

I have just signed up on a limited contract having spent 3 months out in the cold from retrenchment; I am joining an employer out of need and not choice and given the option i intend to quit within 6 months should a good offer surface from somewhere.

I simply wanted to know my legal limits.

1. ( CLARIFY if resigning for valid reasons within the probation period would constitute a breach of country`s labor law.
dbxsoul
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May 23, 2009
regarding Un-limited and limited contracts in the U.A.E in general, ( excluding the freezones), can i presume the labour law is uniform regarding this matters in whichever emirate. Kindly confirm.
trekker
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May 24, 2009
yes, excluding the FZ's.
The Law is a Federal Law and covers all emirates
dbxsoul
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May 31, 2009
I used to work in a freezone. After 7 months, my employer terminated me due to the economic recession.

1. I understand that if I transfer to another company within the freezone, there is no ban. However, if i transfer to a company outside the freezone, will i be banned considering I was only employed for 7 months? do I need to get FZ NOC?

2. Should I consider myself a permanent employee at the time of my termination even though my company did not officially inform me that my probationary period was over? (max limit for probationary period is 6 months while I was terminated on the 7th month).

3. Is the non-competition agreement valid within the freezone?, I signed a non-competition agreement with my previous employer. However, since in a freezone, the true sponsor is the freezone authority and not the employer, will the non-competition agreement prevent me from transferring to a competitor within the freezone?

thanks

dbxsoul wrote:
asha12 wrote:If i am employed in dubai and i am removed from my job by the employer within the probation period of three months(for whatever reasons) then do i need a NOC to get another job ? ..... Please advice. Thanks .. Also what are the chances of getting a job in dubai after being removed from a company during the probation period


Unfortunately, if your contract is terminated during your probation period the chances are almost 100% that you will be banned. You will not be able to meet the criteria necessary to avoid the ban. Your only option is to visit the Department of Labour and ask them to remove the ban; however the chances are very slim to non-existent on this happening.
webbie
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Jun 05, 2009
1. Depends on whether you transfer to another FZ, government job, or private sector outside FZ. Get an NOC to be safe.
2. Yes.
3. Depends on the terms of the agreement you signed. Probably yes.
bonk
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Information regarding ban in FZ Jun 18, 2009
Dear dbxsoul,

you are doing very good efforts helping people,

My Query is, rite now i am working in FZ in DIC, from last 8 months, i want to leave my job i got offer from another company in same Freezone, but in DMC, different Business nature, rite now i am on Notice period of 1 month, in my contract it was written if i leave the job before 18 months i have to pay them training cost, also they are not transfering my visa asking me company name and bala bala, they even dont give salary on time, also working hours are so long.

in my notice period they are saying to complete projects putting me so much work load, i am unable to work here, can you please tell me what are my legal boundaries? also please help me if my visa is cancelled in same FZ, will i be banned, because my new employer in same FZ will apply for my new visa.

there is nothing written in my contract regarding limited or unlimited.

Your help will be grateful

looking for your response
emphus
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Jun 25, 2009
I worked for 22 months with my employer and then due to personal problem i resigned and came back. Comapny put 1 year ban on me which will b over in mid of september, now i few days back i got an offer to work with the same employer again. i accepted the offer. Its more than one month now, my ban has not been lifted up yet. I asked from my company n they told me as ban was imposed by them, and they are lifting it so it will take more than usual time. Can you please tell me how much time it will take..............are there any issues or complications in removing ban and getting visa to work for same employer again.
vishalk
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Re: The Ultimate BAN Guide Jun 27, 2009
Can you confirm if a visa transfer is possible for someone with an unlimited contract working in Al Ain.

I am under probation with a company in Al Ain which has issued a work permit but im yet to undergo medical and residence visa stamping on my passport.

I was curious to know if ban lifting would be possible in this scenario.
I have worked for 2 weeks but the ultimate job id want to get involved with has turned up with an alternative employer.

Id be willing to pay ban lfiting fees if personally required, but i just need to know if a transfer is feasible under these circumstances; an answer would be appreciated. :scratch:
desertrekk
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Jun 28, 2009
If you're on probation, that implies you've been working less than a year for the company so you'd get a six month ban if you leave, in other words no transfer. More here ...

http://www.dubaifaqs.com/visa-ban-uae.php
bonk
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Ban Between 6-12 months for engineers. Jun 28, 2009
I am an Engineer joined company on november 2008 and now completed 6 months. In my offer letter, they promised me family accomadation after sucessful completion of 6 months. But now they are refusing to give the family accomadation. If I resign due to this reason by giving one month notice period, what about the ban? In my contract, they have not mentioned about Family Accomadation, only in offer letter. Is it possible to leave the company without ban? Or can I take any action against the company?
cherian
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Jun 28, 2009
If you resign then you will probably get a ban. If they haven't fulfilled the terms of the contract and are not willing to negotiate then your first step should be to call the labour department or a lawyer.
bonk
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Jul 01, 2009
Back to top I worked for 22 months with my employer and then due to personal problem i resigned and came back. Comapny put 1 year ban on me which will b over in mid of september, now i few days back i got an offer to work with the same employer again. i accepted the offer. Its more than one month now, my ban has not been lifted up yet. I asked from my company n they told me as ban was imposed by them, and they are lifting it so it will take more than usual time. Can you please tell me how much time it will take..............are there any issues or complications in removing ban and getting visa to work for same employer again. Can same company remove ban and get employment visa for me during ban period. If yes, how much it usually takes
vishalk
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